Today is the first major test of the effort they have awaited for years. Yes, today is the graduation exam day for 11th-grade students.
Some of the students walking towards the school entrance were glancing at their test booklets for the last time, while others had already closed their books and were trying to calm themselves. Different emotions were visible on everyone's faces: self-confidence in some, excitement in others, and silent contemplation in yet others.
This excitement was not solely related to the difficulty of the exam. It was also the starting point for future plans, aspirations, and hopes.
In the schoolyard, parents were seeing their children off to the entrance of the examination building. Some were giving their final advice, while others simply touched their child's shoulder and wished them “good luck”.
Several notable incidents also occurred in front of the examination building as students entered. For instance, a female applicant had to return briefly after remembering she had forgotten her pen. She re-entered the examination building shortly thereafter.
At this moment, one of the parents saw his son off with the words, “May your path be open, Mahammad.”
The young man briefly turned back to return the phone he had on him, handed it to his mother, and then entered the examination building. Around 10:32, a female applicant briefly exited the building to give her headphones to her mother. After handing over the headphones, she re-entered the examination building.
A mixture of anxiety and hope was palpable on the faces of the parents. This exam is a stage that not only the students but also their families have awaited for years.
According to examination rules, students were not permitted to bring medication with them. For this reason, a female student's medication, as well as nasal drops brought by another student, were confiscated during the check, and they entered the exam without these items.
As students entered through the school gate, the noise in the yard gradually subsided. In accordance with examination rules, they underwent checks, put aside their phones and other unnecessary items, and proceeded to their classrooms.
Around 10:54, information spread that an applicant had a phone on them, and police officers approached the area. During the investigation, it was revealed that the student had come to the exam without a phone. The concern arose simply because his mother thought he had brought his phone. It was later clarified that the phone had been left at home and no rule violation had occurred.
Minutes before the start of the exam, a female applicant, due to wearing a corset, was subjected to a separate check by a female supervisor in a private room. No issues were found during the check, and the applicant was admitted to the exam.
Another point that caught our attention in the examination building was the absence of both a doctor and a nurse. To ascertain the reason, we approached the general examination supervisor. He stated that emergency medical personnel were on duty in the adjacent building and would immediately come to the area if any incident occurred. Frankly, this was the first time we had encountered such a situation. We hope there will be no need for it.
Finally, the awaited time arrived. The clock showed 11:00. The exam officially began.
A few minutes later, a completely different silence reigned inside the school.
Students had taken their places in the classrooms. On the desks were only pens, documents, and water bottles. The morning light streaming through the window added a calm atmosphere to the room. After the supervisors reminded them of the final instructions, the exam questions began to be distributed.
The general examination supervisor went upstairs to observe the process. Upon returning, he reported that there were no technical problems with the audio devices used in the exam. Students were able to comfortably hear the text and complete the tasks during the listening phase.
In accordance with tradition, we approached that person to obtain additional information about the examination process.
Oğuztoğrul Tahirli, the general examination supervisor of the school, stated that 25 supervisors are participating:
"In total, there are 285 exam participants. Of these, 131 are male and 154 are female. I should note that all of them are participating in the exam."
Exam supervisor Sarkhan Suleymanov noted that the exam is being held on all 3 floors of the building:
“The exam is being conducted in 18 rooms across all 3 floors. I am the exam supervisor on the 2nd floor. There are 25 minutes remaining in the exam, and no rule violations have been recorded so far.”
Parents are still standing in front of the school, watching for the exam to finish.
Some are conversing, while others simply gaze at the school gate, lost in thought. The common emotion uniting them all is hope.
Törakhanim Maharramova, mother of applicant Sevgili Maharramova, stated that her daughter's dream is to be admitted to ADNSU:
“We have gathered here for my daughter's exam. She is my first joy, my first child. In her person, I wish success to all applicants. My daughter, God willing, will succeed in the exam. Her dream is to be admitted to ADNSU."
According to her aunt Aynura Aliyeva, who was waiting with a bouquet of flowers, she is experiencing this excitement for the 3rd time:
“Today, my niece Sevgili Maharramova is taking her exam. I wish her and all applicants success. I am experiencing this joy for the third time, as my own children have been admitted to universities.
May God grant clarity of mind to each of them. The exam has been organized at a high level. God willing, she will earn the title of student and be admitted to her desired university.”
Her grandfather, former deputy Shaitdin Aliyev, stated that very good conditions have been created for children's education in our country:
“I am here for my granddaughter's graduation exam. I wish Sevgili and all other students success in completing the exam. I have 14 grandchildren; 6 of them have been admitted to university, 2 have graduated from higher education, and 4 are continuing their studies. I believe that my granddaughter Sevgili will also be admitted to a university.
Today, I am also pleased with the conditions created for children's education in our country. Our President, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, and his wife, Mehriban Aliyeva, are doing great work for the high-level organization of education and the creation of a material and technical base. As a grandfather, I am very happy about this. I have also been to foreign countries and can say that the steps taken for the development of education in Azerbaijan are rarely encountered in other countries.
I wish success to all students taking the exam today."
Vasif Huseynov, father of Toghrul Huseynzade, noted that his son's dream is to study at DIA:
“Both our dream and our son's dream is to be admitted to the Academy of Public Administration. We think he should score above 500, while he himself wants to achieve a result above 600. Naturally, we want his dream to come true.
My wife is also waiting with me. This is our first excitement; God willing, two more excitements await us after this. We wish the success we desire for our son to other children as well."
As hours passed, new scenes continued to unfold in front of the examination building.
Around 12:44, the first applicant to finish the exam exited the building and shared his impressions.
Hasan Jalilov is a graduate of School No. 36. He stated that the exam was not difficult:
“I have already been admitted to a university. I have been accepted into the Business Administration program at a Chinese university. The exam was not very difficult. Mathematics was easy. I expect to score approximately 200 points.”
A completely different scene unfolded a while later. At 13:26, a female applicant exited the building with excitement and tears. She stated that she was very nervous and, for this reason, could not answer some questions.
According to the applicant, anxiety had put her in a somewhat difficult situation during the exam. The tension did not end there. As there were no emergency medical personnel in the examination building, it took some time for them to arrive. Finally, at 13:33, an emergency medical team entered the building and provided medical assistance to the applicant who was feeling unwell.
The clock shows 14:00. Most applicants had not yet exited the building, but 3 minutes later, sounds were heard, and we began to approach those who had finished.
Ibrahim Aliyev, an 11th-grade student from School No. 200, stated that he is preparing for the II specialty group:
“For me, English was the easiest subject because I had prepared for it the most. Mathematics, however, was more difficult. But overall, the exam was not very hard. I think I can score above 200 points.
I want to study Business Administration at Azerbaijan Technical University. Unfortunately, this specialization is not offered free of charge, but that is not important to me."
Gunel Isgandarova, an 11th-grade student from Full Secondary School No. 36, stated that this year's exam was more difficult compared to previous years:
“Mathematics was particularly difficu< almost all open-ended questions were complex. The texts provided for Azerbaijani language were also thought-provoking and intricate. In practice tests, I had time left over, but because I had to think a lot about the questions, time was not sufficient. The English language subject, however, went normally. Despite the difficulty, I believe I will score above 200 points.
In the future, I plan to study Medicine at a university in Turkey.”
Shahsanem Kazimova, a graduate of Full Secondary School No. 36, noted that the exam generally went well:
“I think the questions were relatively simple for a student who had studied, so I didn't need to be too nervous. Each question has its own difficulty level, but I managed to answer them. Perhaps if I had 30 hours, I could have achieved a better result. English was simpler, and mathematics was of medium difficulty for me.
I am preparing for the I specialty group and plan to study Architecture at Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction. Overall, I believe I will score 500 points."
It should be noted that the reactions of applicants exiting the building towards the end of the exam varied. Many stated that the mathematics questions were more difficult than they had expected. Some students could not hold back their tears, saying they were unable to answer certain questions due to anxiety and tension. Others left the building calmly and silently, with both fatigue and contemplation visible on their faces.
Some applicants, surprisingly and somewhat bewildered, finished the exam and left the building. From their words, it appeared that some of the questions were different from what they had expected. Thus, after the exam, a mix of emotions filled with joy, anxiety, and regret was observed in the schoolyard.
The graduation exam is held annually for thousands of students, but for each of them, this day was a distinct and memorable moment. This is because behind the answers written lies years of hard work, the dedication of teachers, and the support of parents. The students taking the exam today at School-Lyceum No. 83 could be the future students, scientists, teachers, and young people who will achieve success in various fields.
Each of them took a step towards their future today. Perhaps years later, when they recall this day, they will remember the excitement in the schoolyard, the hopeful gazes of their parents, and the silence in the examination room. For today is not just an exam day, but the beginning of a new stage in the lives of young people.
